for W3c validation

Michael Arrington has some interesting comments about the whole “print media is dead” topic (started with SF Chronicle in Trouble?) that has been the topic of conversation for many bloggers this weekend. The thing I really identified with is that bloggers seem to have a firmer grasp of the value of their audience — and I think the reason is because bloggers are actually having a conversation with their readers. Bloggers know what their readers want. Here’s Arrington’s words on the subject:

Here’s an example – If a newspaper is writing about a startup and the writer is fairly sure there aren’t any direct competitors, they’ll still write “Snoozy, one of the leading startups in putting people to sleep” rather than “this is the first company to do this, and the only one so far.” They do this because they must never write an incorrect sentence. So instead of figuring out the truth, they will usually just write a noncommittal sentence. I never really saw this until I started blogging. Now, half the sentences in the average newspaper article jump out at me like they are highlighted – watered down, ass covering statements of nothing.

Now, I’ll write the latter if I can’t find any competitors after talking to a couple of sources and doing basic research. And even though startups are my area of knowledge, there’s a very good chance that statement will be incorrect.

But I write it anyway. Then I watch the comments like a hawk. And in an hour I have 95%+ certainty if I’m right or not.

Whenever I write, I try to think about whether my post is something I, as a reader, would find interesting. Bloggers don’t waste people’s time like many journalists do (if I am, let me know).